LEACH SET TO TIE SPIKE DYKES RECORD AT TECH

People laugh at his jokes, laugh behind his back and laugh at his antics.

But Texas Tech coach Mike Leach is the one getting the last laugh.

With a win this Saturday at home at 6 p.m. against Texas A&M, Leach will tie Spike Dykes for the most wins at Tech by a coach. That's a phenomenal feat for a guy who has a law degree and had no formal coaching training before he became the offensive line coach at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo in 1987.

Since becoming Tech's coach in 2000, Leach has led the Red Raiders to an 81-41 record and nine consecutive bowl game appearances. From 1986-'99, Dykes guided Tech to an 82-67-1 record and seven bowl berths.

"I've always respected Spike tremendously,'' Leach said during the Monday morning Big 12 Conference teleconference. "I don't know that I would have the job here without Spike.

"He's a great coach, he has a great background and did great things everywhere he was. So that's a real honor to be reaching anything (Dykes achieved).''

Depending on who you talk to, Leach is either one of the greatest coaching minds of our time or a guy who has a few loose screws because of his fascination with pirates. But there's no denying the fact that he has an eye for talent, his spread offense is consistently one of the best in the nation, the talent level has improved tremendously since he arrived at Tech, and the school had two Heisman Trophy candidates last year in Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree while reaching as high as No. 2 in the nation.

"I remember when I was a young coach coming up and you'd go to these clinics and things, and Spike Dykes was a great speaker and a great story teller,'' Leach said. "And then I get to Lubbock and sometimes it was kind of ho-hum at Spike, and I'm thinking you guys don't realize what a legend this guy is out there among the community.''

Last year Tech won 11 games, tying the school record for the most wins in a season. Currently, the Raiders are ranked No. 21 in the country and have posted a 5-2 overall record and 2-1 conference worksheet.

Story courtesy of www.star-telegram.com